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The second Tennessee Democrat expelled from the state House of Representatives last week for disrupting proceedings in the chamber was restored to his seat Wednesday after a unanimous vote.
Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) will return to serve the 86th District following the special vote by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
“Nashville thought they could silence democracy,” said the 28-year-old, whose political persona has undergone a series of changes in recent years. “You can’t expel hope, you can’t expel justice.”
The board has 13 members, but only seven, all Democrats, were present for the vote to reinstate Pearson.
The Republican-led Tennessee House ousted Pearson by a 69-26 vote April 6, moments after voting to expel state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) by a 72-25 vote.
